Tracie Poege

Director, Instructor

Studio 5-6-7-8 is owned and directed by Tracie Poage. Tracie began her dance training at the age of four at Encore! Dance Studios, Inc. in Stillwater, OK. She then went on to teach and choreograph at Encore! while earning a degree in Family Relations and Childhood Development at Oklahoma State University.

Tracie has competed and studied at Dance Caravan and Tremaine Dance Conventions for the past 20 years, where she was awarded 1st tap duet, 1st tap line, and 1st tap production three times. She was also a member of a nationally ranked dance team and a UDA All Star. She has continued to coach and choreograph for many dance teams that achieve high levels of success. In 2014 her dance company received many awards including: 3 choreography awards, an entertainment award, several regional 1st place trophies, and top 5 at nationals.

She and her faculty bring a unique opportunity to Yukon for dance enthusiasts. Tracie is very dedicated to her students and strives to provide an exciting, fun, and positive dance experience for children, adults and families. Our support staff and teachers are equally experienced and are required to attend various conventions and workshops throughout the year in order to provide your child with the most up-to-date and innovative material, while also displaying confidence, maturity, and knowledge on a truly professional level.

The studio continues to grow and provides dance and tumbling education to more than 300 students in Yukon, Mustang, El Reno, Bethany, and Edmond. Studio 5-6-7-8 was also proud to be voted Yukon’s Best Dance Studio several years in a row!

Cristen Whitaker

Assistant Director, InstructorA native Texan, Cristen received her training throughout the Fort Worth metro at Caron Moore Dance Productions, Dian Clough West Dance Studio, and Arlington Heights High School. After high school, Cristen relocated to Oklahoma to receive her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. Furthermore, she graduated as Class Marshall of the College of Fine Arts and Design for her academic achievements. Currently she serves as the Assistant Director at Studio 5-6-7-8 in Yukon where she teaches and choreographs for recreational and competitive dancers. Cristen is also a member of RACE Dance Company; she performs as a professional dancer and choreographs for select company shows. She hopes to continue her growth and knowledge as a dancer to better lead and inspire the students she teaches.

Josh Okpara

Hip hop instructor

Born and raised in Oklahoma City, OK, Joshua Okpara has always been a student of dance. Heavily inspired by the likes of Michael Jackson, Usher, Mr. Wiggles and many others, Joshua has been dancing for about 12 years. Over that span of time, it has allowed him to pick up many different styles of dance such as housing, popping, locking, voguing, breakdancing, tectonic and eventually drew him to create his own jazz funk and hip hop choreography. He attended the University of Oklahoma where he was involved with many multicultural associations on campus, performing at Alpha Kappa Delta Phi’s invASIAN showcase from 2009-2011, OUIS India Nite 2010 at Norman High School, while also guest performing with his crew, Band of Misfits, at the first annual Kollaboration Tulsa. While in school, he taught hip hop classes at the Houston Huffman Recreational Center for the student dance community called Crimson Beat. Later that year, he performed at OU’s Sooner Dance Company Spring Show. Being a crew member and artistic director of Band of Misfits has allowed Joshua much dance growth. Joshua has competed in international dance competitions such as World of Dance, and auditioned for MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew Season 6 in Houston and season 7 in Chicago. Riding the wave of dance, these passions brought him overseas to share his gift, giving him the opportunity to tour in Germany with a non-profit organization called H.Y.P.E (Helping Youth Prepare for Excellence). Since then, he continues sharing his art with people ranging from upcoming artists to fashion designers, while teaching classes at Studio 5-6-7-8 located in Yukon, Ok.

Heather Bryant

Instructor, assistant

Heather Bryant is a graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma where she studied dance for 5 years. In her time at UCO, Heather trained in modern, ballet, jazz, tap, and hip hop. As a member of the UCO dance department she choreographed for and performed in multiple student and senior shows. She has performed in multiple numbers for the Oklahoma Contemporary Dance Festival since 2009. Since graduating, Heather has continued to take aerial and company classes with Perpetual Motion Dance. She has been an instructor at Studio 5678 for 4 years now and can’t wait to continue instructing there.

MaKenzi Fox

InstructorMaKenzi Fox is a 20 year old Marketing major at Oklahoma City University from Moore, Oklahoma. She started her dance training at the age of 3 and has trained in various different styles at Top Hat Talent, Applause Studios, and The Pointe Performing Arts Center. She danced professionally for Silvertree Productions from 2014-2016. She has also been involved in dance team since her freshman year of high school as a former member of Southmoore Varsity Pom, current member of OCU Pom, and a member of the NAIA All-American Team. Aside from teaching at the studio, she also is a dance instructor for both the National Dance Alliance and WERK Prep. Headshot w info

Julianne Tran

Instructor

Julianne has trained at Studio 5-6-7-8 for 12 years, competing for 9 years. While dancing with other company dancers, she has won multiple performance awards at regional competitions as well as winning numerous national competition titles. This year, she became a solo regional winner at Hall of Fame Dance Awards. She has traveled to Los Angeles to compete at Kidz Carnival with other dancers from Oklahoma. In addition, she has trained at Tremaine Dance Conventions since she was 11 years old where she was awarded with a scholarship as a teen. Julianne has also performed at many OKC Thunder home games as part of the Oklahoma City Thunder Raindrops dance team; she was a Raindrop for three years. Julianne has also attended multiple master classes from Nika Kljun, Marvin Millora, Bam Martin, Leo Morimune, Hamilton Evans, Lisa Woods, Michelle Rambo and Sam Allen. Recently, she began choreographing and co-choreographed a winning duet routine. Julianne especially enjoys sharing her love for dance with others!

Jonah Tran

Instructor

Jonah is a dancer at Studio 5-6-7-8 who has been dancing for 8 years, competitively for the last 5 years. Throughout the five years, Jonah has won numerous group awards and solo titles at regional and national competitions. He has won solo titles at Dance Showcase, Stage One, and Encore. Jonah has been awarded numerous dance scholarships ranging from the AMDA (College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts/The American Musical and Dramatic Academy) to convention scholarships from Nuvo, Tremaine Dance, and Stage One. He also danced for the Oklahoma City Thunder Raindrops Dance Team for four years where he performed at multiple OKC Thunder home games. In addition, Jonah has choreographed solos and duets; he has received an award for his choreography. He has danced on a professional stage at the Avalon in Hollywood, competing with other dancers around the LA area. He also took classes at Debbie Reynolds Studios and the EDGE Pac in LA. Jonah has taken a variety of master classes with well-known dancers/choreographers such as Stacey Tookey, Leo Morimune, Mark Meismer, Will Loftis, Kenny Wormald, Denise Wall, Bam Martin, Nika Kljun, and Anthony Morigerato. Jonah is currently a freshman in high school and continuing his training at Studio 5678.

Liz Posey

Instructor

Liz Posey will be a junior at Mustang High School. She has danced at Studio 5-6-7-8 for the past 12 years.

She’s had the opportunity to learn many different styles of dance from her instructors at her home studio. She has broadened her dance education by attending master classes with guest artists and also by attending intensive dance conventions and workshops. She has enjoyed being on 5678’s company team for the past 7 years. She has won multiple National Competition titles. She enjoys dance and her favorite thing to do is teach and inspire young children.

Triniti Bodine

Instructor

I’m Triniti Bodine and I’m starting my senior at Yukon High school. I’ll also be starting my 2nd year at votech for cosmetology. When I graduate high school I’d like to continue working one on one with kids and adults as a hair dresser! I’ve been dancing since I was 3 yrs old and I’ve been with Studio 5678 since I was 10. Dancing has been a big part of my life and I’ve enjoyed dancing for many years and teaching what I love to new students!

Sara Wally

Instructor

My name is Sara Wally and I will be a junior at Mustang High School. I’ve been dancing for 8 years and it’s been a huge part of my life. Throughout those eight years I’ve bee competing for 5 and have non numerous national titles! Dance is something I’m very passionate about and hope to pursue as a career. Aside from dancing I really love to act and I’m heavily involved in the Mustang theatre department. I’m also a member of MHS varsity pom team as well as a member of the MHS National Honor Society! Dance has made me become a more outgoing and happy person and I hope to pass that alonng to other students!

Julia Mcguire

Instructor

My name is Julia McGuire and I’m am a senior at Yukon High School. I’ve been a competitive cheerleader for 10 years now. Throughout those 10 years I’ve won numerous NCA national titles and multiple local titles. I plan to continue and take my cheerleading and tumbling career to the Collegiate level this next year as I graduate High School. Tumbling has always been a huge passion of mine which is why I love teaching it to others!

Elizabeth Van Horn

Originally from Oklahoma City, Elizabeth graduated with her BFA in Dance Performance and BA in Dance Education from the University of Central Oklahoma. Elizabeth began her dance training under CeCe Farha and Kimberly Loveridge. As a member of UCO’s pre-professional company Kaleidoscope Dance Company for four years, Elizabeth was privileged to work with multiple guest artists such as Kiki Lucas, Adam Parson, Edwin Olvera, Masayo Yamaguchi, Loretta Livingston and others. Throughout her education, she has maintained a 4.0, qualifying her for the President’s Honor Roll and graduating summa cum laude. Since graduating, Elizabeth teaches dance around the Oklahoma City area and in the future hopes to obtain her masters degree in dance so that she may teach at a university